Best Book Reviews

ATTENTION! BEST BOOK REVIEWS HAS MOVED!

2011-07-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION!

Best Book Reviews has moved to a great new location!
VISIT www.bestbookreviewblog.wordpress.com!

Al the reviews from this blog are now moved there as well as many, many, many new reviews!

Winning Women's Lacrosse

2010-09-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Winning Women's Lacrosse by Kelly Amonte Hiller (with Ashley Gersuk and Ann Elliot) is one of very, very few recent books for girls/women lacrosse players, not for coaches or parents. This book is great for girls and women from beginners to experts to help them understand the game and learn movement and footwork for each of the lacrosse positions. It includes photographs to explain movements better, and the words are easy to understand and are full of the amazing knowledge of this great lacrosse player author. It covers everything- from stickwork and throwing and passing to attacking, defending, goalies, and teamwork. it even offers lacrosse training routines. If you play lacrosse, or are interested in playing and want to learn how it works without having to read only basic stuff (that isn't from 1960), get this book! Learn winning women's lacrosse from the book about it!

Ages: 12-adult
Books: Winning Women's Lacrosse

Peeps: A Candy-Coated Tale

2010-09-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

Peeps are simply Easter candy, right? Wrong, according to Peeps: A Candy-Coated Tale by Mark Masyga and Martin Ohlin. It turns out, Peeps actually live in Peepsville, where they hang out with friends and suckers (literally, lollipops make good pals!) read the Peepsville Current news and Peeple Weekly magazine, and watch out for the kids' school mascot, a guinea pig! But everybody is wondering where a prominent Peeps family, known by all, dissapeared to? Discover for yourself while reading through Peeps papers to solve the mystery, while reading about the coolest new Peeps shows including Peep Idol. But look out for Peepsquatch and the scary book that shows you recipes and crafts with peeps in it! Ahh! This book also includes a short history of peeps and real recipes and crafts that you can use yourself!

Ages: (Depends, because there are lots of candy-versions of real people and movies that many adults will know but not kids.) 10 to adult
Books: Peeps: A Candy-Coated Tale

The Kane Chronicles

2010-07-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

In the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (author of the famed Percy Jackson & The Olympians series) Carter and Sadie are brother and sister, but look nothing alike, act nothing alike, and don't live with each other- Carter is 14, homeschooled, and lives with his Egyptologist dad who constantly travels, and Sadie is 12, really tall for her age, goes to public school in Britain and lives with her grandparents. They both have the same parents, but after their mom died they stopped living together. They don't particularly mind not living with each other- the rarely see each other, anyway- but when their dad is taken away by an evil Egyptian god and they discover that they can use magic, the siblings team up to save their father and figure out what in the world is going on! It turns out that the Egyptian gods- though not actually gods-are actually powerful, magical beings that really exist, and that there are real magicians that know about these beings and want to stop them from interfering with the mortal world. But unfortunately, some of the worst of these magicial beings have now been released, and the one that took their dad is planning to take over the world. Now Carter, Sadie, and the various people- and Egyptian gods- they team up must save the world and their dad before it is too late! The description might not sound too original or hint at a great book, but The Kane Chronicles is a series that I could not give away things to! For Percy Jackson fans, this book is also a kind of sequal to the best-selling series in the way that it also talks about how the Greek Olympians exist too, though the characters never actually meet any Percy Jackson characters nor any Greek gods. The only bad thing that there is to say is that the book is supposed to be the written version of an audio recording, but if that is so, then Carter and Sadie are the best orators in the world! However, this is a captivating book not to be missed!

Ages: 11-15
Books: The Red Pyramid

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

2010-07-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

Vladimir Tod was born a vampire. He knows this from the beginning of the series The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer. Vlad- as he likes to be called for short- had a normal, human mom and a dad that was a vampire, resulting in him born a vampire instead of turned into one. Besides the fact that his parents died in some kind of fire, Vlad's life is pretty good- he lives with his mom's best friend Nelly who gets him blood bags to eat from- forget about feeding from a living human!- and goes to school with his best friend, Henry, although Henry does like girls too much. But when Vlad finds out that his parents may have been murdered rather than killed in an accident, and that there might be another vampire after him, and discovers secrets left in his father's journal, his normal-vampire life is changed forever! Vlad also needs to learn more about his powers and weaknesses- he can hover, which is cool, but is 'allergic' to garlic, which is dangerous. On top of all this, he has to keep his secret from the rest of the world! This book series also includes an element of mystery as well, that keeps readers wanting to solve it just as much as Vlad does! There are a few parts that are creepy or scary, but this isn't a horror book at all and most older readers will be able to deal with these, or skip them if they choose. But this book is different from some other vampire books- Vlad is practically the living version of the vampire legends, except for a few facts such as that the whole no-reflection thing is fake. Enjoy the adventures of Vladimir Tod, the teenage vampire!

Ages: 13-16
Books: Eighth Grade Bites, Ninth Grade Slays, Tenth Grade Bleeds, Eleventh Grade Burns, Twelfth Grade Kills,

The Adventures of King Midas

2010-06-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

You think you know the story of King Midas? Think again. In The Adventures of King Midas by Lynne Reid Banks, you'll learn the whole story of King Midas- how he wished for gold, and got want he wanted- a golden touch; everything he touches turns to gold! At first, it seems awesome- his favorite thing is everywhere! But when his own daughter accidentally turns to gold, he knows he must find a way to reverse this apparantly not-reversable spell! So Midas sets off in search of the Old Gollop, who may have the power to turn his daughter back to human and remove his curse- but when a run-in with a witch delays his search, King Midas must be brave and clever to save the day and save his daughter! A perfect, original yet somehow classic adventure and a spin on the old Greek Myth, for young readers!

Ages: 8-11
Books: The Adventures of King Midas

Skulduggery Pleasant

2010-06-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

In the exciting Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, Stephanie Edgley doesn't expect that after her favorite uncle dies, she'll have a totally different life. She meets Skulduggery Pleasant- her uncle's good friend, secret detective, hilariously witty, walking, talking, living, skeleton. Yep, the famed Elemental detective that can use the coolest magic- water, earth, air, and fire- and Stephanie discovers that unknown to the non-magical people there are Mages out there- and they aren't always necesarily good. Skulduggery Pleasant- who died but somehow didn't exactly die- Stephanie doesn't really know how this works- is one of the good guys- he solves mysterious and catches the murderers and theives, all while wearing his snazzy clothes. This time, he's out to stop one of the most evil bad guys ever who stole the most powerful magical objects ever and wants to bring to live the most horrible beings ever. And Stephanie, tired of her too-normal life, insists on coming with him. So begins the adventures of Skulduggery Pleasant and Stephanie Edgley, a perfect combination of mystery, comedy, adventure, magic, and epic battles, which altogether create a book you can't put down- and won't want to! A perfect recommendation for readers looking for 'the next great series' after they've read everything else!

Ages: 12-15
Books: The Scepter of the Ancients (originally just called Skulduggery Pleasant), Playing With Fire, The Faceless Ones

The Giver Trilogy

2010-06-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

In The Giver by Lois Lowry, many years into the future from now, young Jonas lives in world that seems peaceful, although it does have quite a few rules, with the parents that he was chosen for and the younger sister that was chosen for his family. He was an eleven that enjoyed the world he lived in for all the eleven years of his life- until the day he became a twelve. After that, Jonas must recieve memories from the mysterious Giver, a wise old man who helps Jonas discover that everything is not as it seems. This story is extremely well-written in the way it is presented, and as you discover things alongside Jonas, this quickly becomes the most powerful book you've ever read. After reading The Giver, the book does not leave your thoughts and the earth as you know it and the world that you live in seem a million times better than they did before you read this book; it leaves you with an amazing appreciation of your life. The story is also a fantastic mystery, and you'll be dying to discover the secrets of this future society. The other books take you into the adventures of two other characters in two different places, but to avoid spoilers those will not be discussed.

Ages: 12-adult
Books: The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger

Graceling

2010-05-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

In Graceling by Kristin Cashore, a young lady named Katsa is one of the people in her land that is gifted with a Grace- a special power that can be anything from swimming to mind reading. Katsa has a fighting Grace- a Grace that she is forced to use for one of the kings of the land, the cruel Randa. She is sent out to hurt the people who disobey the king. Then Katsa meets a prince from another kingdom named Po- a prince who also has a fighting Grace! Soon, she and Po become friends, and they learn that each finally has an evenly matched fighting partener at last. Then, Katsa learns of a strange kidnapping mystery and no one knows which king is behind it, and she and Po set off and begin what turns into a great adventure through all the kingdoms, an adventure where Katsa learns hidden secrets, about the kidnapping, an evil king, about herself, and about Po. This story is a mystery full of surprises that keeps the reader and the heroine thinking. This book is mostly good, though sometimes some of the characters will think about death carelessly which can be irritating, and there is one very short love-y part in the middle that might want to be skipped, though it isn't really understandable, therefore making it not that bad, actually. The ending could be better, but it is actually one of the book in a series giving the story a chance of a satisfying ending in later books. This is a book that will make you wondering what will happen next, though, and the whole idea of Graces is original and unique! You will read quickly to solve the mystery alongside Katsa and Po!

Ages: 13- adult
Books: Graceling, Fire (a prequel, which I read is more adult than Graceling, though I have not read the book myself), Bitterblue (a sequel coming soon)

Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring

2010-05-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring by Master Jim Hogan and James Home is a guidebook that helps the martial artist learn how to spar in competition effectively. This book is geared towards students with beginner to intermidiate sparring levels of ITF Taekwon-Do, but martial artists who spar simmilar to the ITF can also read this book, and I reccommend advanced fighters to read this book as well. It is full of great techniques to use in sparring, great combinations, great set-ups and more. It also offers a type of gaurd and sparring stance that was created by the author, made specifically for competition sparring. I am not sure if I agree with the garud and stance, but I think it is still worth trying. This book also offers foot movements and counter attacks helpful in sparring. This book is a great read for any ITF martial artist! For example, a great footwork and punch idea from the book is The Blitz- a certain way to pull your foot in, fall forwards into two steps, and do a middle section reverse punch on the last step. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind book!

Ages: 12-adult
Books: Effective Taekwon-Do Sparring (the authors have also written another book on patterns)

Chang Hon Taekwon-Do Hae Sul

2010-05-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Stuart Paul Anslow writes Chang Hon Taekwon-Do Hae Sul, a book for ITF Taekwon-Do practitioners that examines the ITF Taekwon-Do patterns. It goes from Four Direction Punch/Saju Jirugi to Toi-Gye, and the book will provide applications to the patterns and full pattern meanings. The applications are mostly the 'hidden applications' that Stuart Paul Anslow discovered himself, and I do not agree with all of them, as I think that Taekwon-Do should stay the way that General Choi Hong-Hi intended it to stay, but the pattern meanings are well worth the read. You may know the meanings of the patterns, but you might not know the whole story. The stories about the pattern meanings are enjoyable to read and they will help you remember the meanings of each pattern. Dan-Gun is named after the holy Dan-Gun, but reading this book will let you know just who the legendary founder of Korea was, and more. The book is also full of extra information, to be found in the back and front, that are also good to read. This book is a good addition to the Taekwon-Doin's library, even if there are some things that you may not agree with, such as certain applications and the fact that Mr. Anslow believes that General Choi Hong-Hi did not know what EVERY technique's purpose was, which I think is just nonsence. However, even if you just want this book for the pattern meanings, you should still consider reading this book or at least skimming through it.

Ages: 12-adult
Books: Chang Hon Taekwon-Do Hae Sul, volume one

The Great Little Madison

2010-03-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

In the Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz, James Madison is a man of about 5"6, which isn't too short, but he seems smaller because of his boyish face and tiny voice. This same James Madison somehow winds up in the Constitutional Convention and later becomes president! How can a man with a small voice help write the United States Constitution? How can James Madison become America's fourth president? Find out in this book, which is very well written and captivating for a history book, and you might enjoy reading this just for fun, just wanting a good story. It also includes some good information about others, such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, along the way in this story. The only thing I could say bad about this story is that it says that James Madison was 5"6, whereas in other places it reads that James Madison's height was anywhere from 5"2 to 5"6. I do not know whether this book has the most accurate depiction of the Great Little Madison's height or not, but this doesn't matter. If you're looking for a book on James Madison, or just a fun real-life read, then read this book by Jean Fritz. Unforgettable Americans is a whole series, but since Jean Fritz did not write them all then I will not review the whole series as one, as I have only read this book (as of March 2010.)

Ages: 11-15
Books: The Great Little Madison

Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club Books

2010-03-04T22:15:00.000-08:00

In the Taekwon-Do guides for the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club by Master Gary Bosse and Patricia DeArmas, the ITF Taekwon-Do student can learn what to do for a test, learn different Step Sparring and Releases, and more. This book is only avaliable through their classes, but you can read it for free online here- they are the Class Reference Books. In the Ultimate Taekwon-Do Testing Book, you can read testing requirements, questions and answers, and new techniques and patterns for each belt grade up until your 1st dan black belt test- it even has the answers to the written test for your black belt! In The Complete Step Sparring and Releases book, you can read how to do the Step Sparring and Releases practiced at the Las Vegas Taekwon-Do Club's class. There are more books to be written about Taekwon-Do, but on the site are the currently completed books. Keep in mind that this book is for the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Student and if you take another style of Tae Kwon Do you will be dissapointed because the information is different from what you have learned in your organization's class. Master Gary Bosse is a 7th dan black belt in Taekwon-Do and Patricia DeArmas is his student and is a 1st dan.

Ages: 6-adult
Books: The Ultimate Taekwon-Do Testing Book, the Complete Taekwon-Do Step Sparring and Releases Book,

Night Runner

2010-03-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

In Night Runner (which will be a series) by Max Turner, 15-year-old orphan Zach lives in a metal ward because of his weird, incurable allergies. He's allergic to food, (except for milkshakes) and sunlight, - the things that most people aren't allergic to. He doesn't mind, though- the ward has an awesome room where he can work out, his best friend visits him all the time, and the pretty Nurse Ophelia is practically his mother. Then, one day, a man on a police motorcycle crash-visits the ward and tells Zach to run! So begins Zach's adventure- when he begins to learn his true identity, meets a strange family member he'd never known of, and hides out at his friend Charlie's house. Everything eventually becomes clear for Zach- he isn't an average boy with weird allergies- he's a vampire- super strong, super fast, and with abilities he'd never began to imagine that he could have. It's cool and horrifying at the same time- he is far more powerful than any human, and only beginning to know his strengths, but he needs blood to survive- and it turns out that human blood is far more beneficial than the animal blood that was in his 'strawberry milkshakes.' Zach needs to satisfy his hunger, hide from the police, who are looking for the 'missing insane boy,' and learn more about his parents and his mysterious past, while discovering that what might be the most evil vampire on the face of the earth might be after him... This book is narrated by Zach and is an exciting adventure mixed with mystery, with a bit of thrill and horror. Don't shy away from this book, especially boys, because you're thinking it's another Twilight- the only thing this has in common with Twilight is the vampires! Along the way, Zach meets Luna- a girl that is the best (and only) girl his age he has ever met, and Zach wonders how he's going to be able to tell Luna what he really is- it was easy to tell Charlie, but how can he tell someone he barely knows? This book includes one part when a bunch of teenagers are at a party with alcoholic beverages served, but Zach and Luna don't drink any, and nothing bad happens there. I must warn you- towards the end, there is a horrifying tragedy that will make you furious with the author- but don't throw your book in the garbage yet! I promise that if you read the rest of the book, you won't be disappointed! Night Runner is an original book that draws you in from the first page, and will leave you waiting for the next book, and shaking from the evil trickiness of the author!

Ages: 12-16
Books: Night Runner

Fifty-Five Fathers

2010-02-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

In the book Fifty-Five Fathers by Selma R. Williams, you'll learn the story of the Constitutional Convention- how the U.S. Founding Fathers decided to get rid of the failing Articles of Confederation and create the Constitution. They had to agree and make compromises, come up with new ideas, and get through alot of arguing and unacceptable ideas to make what they thought would be the greatest government ever. The book is exciting for a history book and has some great information in it, it even includes the whole constitution and small bios on the 55 delegates at the convention, as well as an index at the end. It's an enjoyable read, though not an adventure, and will introduce great characters such as James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, and the lesser known delegates such as Gouverner Morris and Nathanial Gorham. I think that if you want to learn about the Constitutional Convention, then this is the book for you!

Ages: 10-16
Books: Fifty-Five Fathers

A Picture Book of Patrick Henry

2010-02-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

I believe this is a whole series, but since all the books are so different and I believe written by various authors, I shall review them separately. In A Picture Book of Patrick Henry by David A. Adler, you'll find one of the best books on Patrick Henry available. Don't shy away because it's a picture book, this book is loaded with information on the fiery Patrick Henry, the great orator who said the famous, 'give me liberty or give me death!' speech in the 1700s. This seemingly little book has tons of information on each page, telling you about Patrick's life from childhood until the day he died. If you are researching or writing about Patrick Henry, then this book is for you, though I recommend getting out more than one book. In some areas, this book just gives you the basic Patrick Henry story all in one book, but in other areas, you'll discover things not written in other books. You can be any age to use and enjoy this book, though the pictures don't always seem accurate- for example, on one page, it shows when Patrick Henry's first house caught fire, but his children would have been much younger than depicted in the drawing.

Ages: 9-adult, though adults probably wouldn't get a picture book for information

Books: A Picture Book of Patrick Henry (and other titles in the series)

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas

2010-01-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Emma Kragen! In 7-year-old Emma Kragen's howling fun picture book, you'll read- or sing- the story of how on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a poodle in a dog house, how on the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine Chihuahua's chomping, and all the way until the end, where my true love gives me a... cat! As a bonus, this book sometimes comes with a CD version of the song, sung aloud. This book is a blend of real dog pictures and cartoons, and is a fantastic book to be read aloud to dog-lovers everywhere! This book was even adapted into a movie version, but I don't believe that it is much like the book, minus the name. Children will love how this book was written by a 7-year-old, a kid just like them, and may even feel inspired to write there own book. This book comes in board book form, as well, so even babies can enjoy the pictures and song.

Ages: 2-7
Books: The Twelve Dogs of Christmas

The Maze Runner Trilogy

2010-01-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

James Dashner is a genius. You can prove this by reading The 13th Reality, and his book The Maze Runner definitely backs it up. In the Maze Runner by James Dashner, Thomas wakes up in a strange place- called the Glade- where teenage boys live together in their own community. Thomas has no memory of his past except his name, he doesn't even know his own age or his parents; unknowing like the rest of the boys there. There are four exits from the Glade which lead to the Maze- a Maze that may be their only way out. But it isn't as simple as figuring out the Maze- the walls move, and strange monsters called the Grievers reside there. And the doors to the Maze close every night. If you stay in the Maze over night, you are never seen again. Then, the day after Thomas, the first girl ever arrives in the Glade- bringing them a message and saying everything is about to change before she falls into a strange coma. Soon, Thomas is plunged into a mystery of Grievers, lost memories, and a changing maze, where surprises wait around every turn in Thomas' new life, and he suddenly gets an odd feeling that he was meant to a Maze Runner, one of the kids that runs through the Maze, trying to find a solution, each day. This book is captivating and full of great surprises at the end, though, not to give anything away, the author doesn't write the scenes when someone dies good enough to make you feel sad that they are gone. However, I would recommend this book to any fan of great mysterious, spooky, science fiction adventures. Warning: this book will grab you, won't let you go, and leave you practically crying for the next book!

Ages: 13-17
Books: The Maze Runner

A Killing Art

2010-01-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

In the book A Killing Art: The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do by Alex Gillis, you'll learn the history of Tae Kwon Do (Alternatly spelled Taekwon-Do and Taekwondo, but spelled Tae Kwon Do in this book because it is a neutral spelling that isn't the offical spelling for either of the two main TKD organizations) and the founders of the two main Tae Kwon Do organizations, the ITF and the WTF. This book is written so that it is exciting enough to be read rather quickly, but it has alot of the author's opinions about what people were thinking, which leads to a bit of missinformation, as well as one large error. The mistake is that General Choi Hong-Hi, founder of the original ITF Taekwon-Do, never said that Tae Kwon Do is an ancient martial art; while in the book it states this, whereas in actuality Tae Kwon Do was founded on April 11th, 1955. I reccomend reading Taekwon-Do and I alongside this book, where you get General Choi Hong-Hi's own opinions on things, as he is the one who wrote Taekwon-Do and I. However, if you take WTF or or even ATA Tae Kwon Do, I highly reccomend this book. For the WTF and the ATA, the history of Tae Kwon Do really is untold, and this book will reveal it's history. The book is written by Alex Gillis, who has studied in both ITF Taekwon-Do and WTF Taekwondo, so this book is not a book that is endlessly saying one style is better than the other, so that any Tae Kwon Do martial artist can read this without getting too angry. Even if this book has a few mistakes, it is worth reading, and if you have already read Taekwon-Do and I there are some facts that are not written there in this book. If you do not currently take Tae Kwon Do, reading this book isn't a good introduction for your martial arts journey; this is a history book written at a fast pace, not a guide to Tae Kwon Do of any style.

Ages: 13-adult
Books: A Killing Art

Pepe and Papa

2010-01-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

In Pepe and Papa by Linda Hayward, Pepe and his Papa travel to sell their chillies with their burro, the chillies on his back. But when the people they meet along the way make comments about their traveling set up, Papa changes things: First Pepe rides on the burro and the chillies ride on Papa's head, then Papa ends up carrying the chillies, the burro, and Pepe across an unstable bridge! What happens when a boy and his daddy try to take everyone's advice? Find out in Pepe and Papa, a story for your child to either learn to read with or have read to them! This story has simple sentances and has fun pictures, and is a great first read for little kids, or for even younger children to have read aloud to them. This was my little brother's first read at age five, and is easy for people to memorize so that then they can know what each word says after hearing the story a few times.

Ages: 3+ read aloud, 4+ read alone
Books: Pepe and Papa

The Freedom Factor

2010-01-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

In The Freedom Factor by Gerald N. Lund, Bryce Sherwood is a key player in a planned amendment to the Constitution, an amendment that will allow the people to have so much power that they can throw out and change out government officials whenever they please. Even when he's told that the people he's working for practically plan to destroy all the Constitution stands for, he doesn't care. Bryce meets Leslie Adams, a pretty lady that completely disagrees with what Bryce is trying to do. She works for 'Save the Constitution,' and is happy to let Bryce know just what she thinks. Surprisingly, despite their differences, Bryce quickly falls in love with her. But the first time Bryce drives her home, he sees a mysterious homeless man outside the window...and then he sees the man again....and again! On an encounter with this man, he tells Bryce his name is Nathanial Gorham, an original signer of the Constitution! Gorham was sent to stop the amendment to the Constitution- through Bryce! He's a ghost (but he doesn't prefer to be thought of like this) and is determined to change Bryce's mind, to no avail. Even as he spends more time with Leslie and her family, he just wants Gorham to get out of his life, and isn't going to even think of siding with him and Leslie when it comes to the amendment. Then it goes too far for Nathanial: when Gorham can't talk Bryce into changing his mind, he transports him to another dimension... a world without the Constitution. There, the Declaration of Independence is just a legend, and what used to be the United States is now split into many different areas.... The Confederation of North American States, The demilitarized zone, the United States of America, and more. The people are full of fear, and Bryce realizes the hard way that he'd been wrong. Now Bryce must help the people of this strange world- including none other than Leslie Adams and her father, who happens to be a sort of hero to the resistance in this world. But Bryce soon learns something startling- he may never be able to get back to his United States! This book might bother some people in the beginning, because it starts out with a lot of Bryce falling in love with Leslie and less historical fiction-dimension-jumping adventure, but I found even that part not boring. The ending seems slightly disappointing, as it could have been a little longer, but this book is a great story!

Ages: 12-adult

Books: The Freedom Factor

Witch & Wizard

2010-01-02T14:53:00.001-08:00

Get ready for another thrilling James Patterson novel! In Witch & Wizard by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet, 15-year-old Wisty and almost-18-year-old Whit are a sister and brother that are suddenly taken out of their home, arrested, and acused of being a witch and wizard. But here's the thing: It seems that they actually ARE a witch and wizard! Wisty discovers that she can light herself on fire-seeminly unharmed- move things with her mind, turn people into animals, freeze things, and more. Whit once stuck his head through a wall and saw his girlfriend... only in a spirit world. Imagine a world where the goverment is now ruled by a man who calls himself 'The One Who Is The One,' a man that not only wants to rule our earth, but other worlds as well. He's banned certain music, books, and artwork, and wizards and witches aren't allowed- but who knew they actually existed? Narrated from the point of view of either Wisty or Whit depending on the chapter, this book tells the story of two siblings that discover that they are magical, and try to escape before they are executed for being so! Don't be expecting the next Harry Potter- this book isn't at all like Harry Potter. Instead, be ready for a dimension-jumping, magical, ghost-filled, kid-saving adventure.

Ages: 12-18
Books: Witch & Wizard

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2009-12-27T22:06:00.000-08:00

In The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, set many years ago, a twelve-year-old boy, living alone after his father died in a fire and his uncle dissapeared, usually steals to get food and drink: and parts for an invention that he is making. Hugo is fixing an automaton, a robotic being that his father had tried to fix before him. He secretly thinks that it might, once fixed, write a message from his father with the pen in its hand. Then Hugo is caught stealing from the groutchy toymaker- and he takes Hugo's notebook, once his father's, a notebook full of the plans on how to fix the automaton. Sad and angry, Hugo finds the only way to get it back is to work for the toymaker, and he might have a chance of getting it given back before the toymaker does what he threatened to do: burn it. Hugo then meets the grandaughter of the toymaker, a girl who seems to want to help him but Hugo isn't sure he can trust. But as he tries to earn back the notebook and to fix the automaton, Hugo uncovers a mystery about the movies (this is set in a time when films were only first coming out) and the story will captivate you, you'll be curious about the automaton and the magic of the cinema, and you'll be silently cheering on Hugo. This story is a novel in pictures and words, and the art is beautiful, and you'll like how, though at first sad, the story has a happy ending. It will make you curious about the first movies and robots, too!

Ages: 10-14
Books: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Hunger Games Trilogy

2009-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, far into the future the world as we know it is no more. Instead of North America, there are twelve districts, and in district twelve lives sixteen-year-old Katniss, her mother, her little sister Prim, her best friend Gale, and the other people, mostly poor. After her father died in a mine accident, Katniss has been providing for her family, hunting with a bow and arrow, collecting wild plants and berries, and trading some of the things she hunted for bread and other provisions, even if everyone knows that this is illegal. Luckily, even if she has it alot worse than the people in most of the other districts, the worst thing that usually happened in her town was starvation and mine injuries, and punishments were rare. But every so often there are The Hunger Games, a fight to the death shown on TV, and two people from the ages of twelve to seventeen from each district are chosen to participate in it. The Hunger Games are punishment to the districts, because one time district 13, which is now destroyed, dried to overthrow the Capitol, the awful, rich rulers of the rest of the districts. Brutal, dangerous, and surprising, The Hunger Games didn't end until there was only one kid standing. Then the unthinkable happens: Katniss' helpless little sister Prim is chosen for the games, and knowing Primrose won't stand a chance in the games, Katniss takes her place. Along with Peeta Mellark, the baker's son that once risked getting hit by his mother to give Katniss bread when her family was starving, Katniss is taken to prepare for The Hunger Games. Things don't look good for Katniss. Her mentor, the last district twelve Hunger Games champion, is drunk half the time, most of the other competitors are larger than her, and there hasn't been a district twelve winner in thirty years. But suddenly, things look up: Katniss and Peeta make an award-winning entrance at the opening ceremony, Katniss' talent with the bow and arrow get her a high score for training, and, surprisingly, Peeta pretends to be in love with Katniss, making the supposedly 'star-crossed lovers' a huge hit with the audience. The more famous you become, the more sponsors you get, and more sponsors mean more chances of survival. Then the actual games begin, and Katniss is thrown into a filmed outdoor battle arena where you could be killed and any moment, die from starvation or thirst, or be in a deadly trap set by the Game Keepers, government workers determined to keep the games interesting. Can Katniss actually win The Hunger Games? In this exciting, violent, sad, surprising, captivating book told from Katniss' present point of view, you'll be hoping that Katniss will win and that Peeta and a twelve year old girl named Rue that Katniss befriends won't die. But there can be only one winner of The Hunger Games...
In the first book, there is only one cuss word ('hell'), and Katniss is naked to be dressed by stylists towards the beginning of the book, but there is really nothing inappropriate, and the nakedness isn't offending. And, though it can be violent, you won't want to put down The Hunger Games, and you''l be begging to read the next book in the series as well! However, sadly, book two is rather dissapointing, and Katniss doesn't seem to be the same as she was in the first book.

Ages: 13-17
Books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire,

When Santa Fell To Earth

2009-12-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

In the book called When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke, the truth about the man who brings presents for Christmas every year is this- there are actually many Santa Clauses, who work alongside elves, reindeer, and angels! But when the evil Gerold Geronimus Goblynch outlaws all the magical, old ways of the Santas, bans angels and elves, and says that snowmobiles are going to replace reindeer, he says that any Santa who will not go with these new ways will be turned to chocolate. Young Santa Niklas Goodfellow, two angels, some elves, and an invisible reindeer go into hiding from Goblynch- Niklas is now the last, and real, Santa. When two children named Ben and Charlotte, along with Ben's dog, meet Niklas, they help him and together must save the day, and stop the last Santa from being turned to chocolate. In this slightly spooky, in that weird, Roald Dahl sort of way, original story of how the one and only Santa came to be, and how the presents were delivered previously, you'll be captivated, whether in the Christmas spirit or not! Just don't get bad dreams of being turned into a chocolate Santa! This Christmas story you should not want to miss, Cornelia Funke fans, or any other kind of book fans!

Ages: 10-12

Books: When Santa Fell to Earth

Bran Hambric

2009-11-16T22:17:00.000-08:00

In the Bran Hambric series by Kaleb Nation, in a world similar yet different than ours, 14-year-old Bran Hambric was found inside a bank vault when he was 6 years old, with no memories of his past. The only clue was a paper that said his name and birth date. Found by the Wilomas family, Bran went to live with them and has lived there ever since- with Sewey, the man who found him, not so smart but unknowingly funny, his wife, who's extremely afraid of germs, their two children, which are Balder and Baldretta, 8-year-old Balder greedy and stubborn, and little Baldretta the wisest of the family yet always with something stuffed in her mouth, and their maid, Rosie, who is the closest thing Bran has to a mom, kind and caring, and the lady who has homeschooled ever since the Wilomas's found out that the school used a red triangle shape when teaching little children- far to close to a gnome's hat. In Dunce, the city where Bran lives, there is a sign that clearly states: "No gnomes, no mages, etcetera." Outside the city, short gnomes, magic, and magical mages are common. Inside Dunce, Gnomes are hated and mages are outlawed. Everything changes when Bran discovers that his mother was a criminal... a magical criminal... and that he, too, is a mage! His mother had something to do with a curse... the Farfield Curse... and now Bran is being hunted down by her former companions. Full of mystery, magic, and some adventure, Bran Hambric was started when homeschooled Kaleb Nation was 14 years old. It is captivating, but not so action-packed in the beginning- but this book will make your heart race when a new secret is about to be reveled. This fantasy book shouldn't be missed!

Ages: 11-15
Books: The Farfield Curse

Shakespeare's Secret

2009-11-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

In Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach, 12-year-old 6th grader Hero has just moved to a house in Maryland. She has to go to a new school- again- and she expects she isn't going to make any friends, like always. Her and her popular, sunny older sister Beatrice are named after characters from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, but Hero has never had an interest in reading the play, it's her father who is the Shakespeare expert, not her. Hero thinks that it's like a board game where each player gets something different- her father got Shakespeare, her mother got good humor, Beatrice got popularity and Hero... all Hero knew was that she was going to have to deal with the fact that a girl at her new school has a pet dog with her name, and listen to most of others bark when she walked past. When Hero meets their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Roth, she tells Hero of the diamond that is supposedly hidden inside Hero's house, and they decide that it will be their secret as they try and figure out the mystery of the hidden diamond that is all the way from the Elizabethan Era. Hero is joined in the search by Danny, a boy that Beatrice says is the cutest in the 8th grade and doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. Although this book has, in my opinion, too much lying, our Hero, while trying to figure out the mystery of the diamond, uncovers even more entertaining mini-mysteries and big surprises. Even though this book is supposed to be a mystery, it probably shouldn't be considered that- it's just an adventure that happened one fall in Maryland.

Ages: 10-14
Books: Shakespeare's Secret

Pendragon

2009-11-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

In the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale, 14-year-old Bobby Pendragon is just a kid who plays basketball, loves his dog, thinks his family and best friend Mark are awesome to know, and is happy to say he just kissed Courtney Chetwynde, the prettiest and toughest girl he's ever met. Then Bobby is taken by his Uncle Press to an abandoned subway station and goes through a door into a strange place- another world called Denduron where strange creatures called Quigs roam and the poor people are ruled by the upper-class that treats them as slaves, carelessly killing them if they displease them. Seperated from his uncle, Bobby meets Loor and her mother, warrior women who are Travelers- what Bobby discovers that he is! They are meant to travel through the worlds... and Bobby is meant to save Denduron! On top of that, Uncle Press is captured, and it seems to be up to Bobby to save him. So begins the adventures of Bobby, who writes a journel telling of his journey and sends it to his friends Mark and Courtney, who may or may not believe him, for all Bobby knows. Can Bobby team up with young Loor and save the day, and everything else? Find out in the exciting, entertaining, captivating Pendragon series! Pendragon has a small amount of bad words, but none of the really bad cuss words. Any fantasy, adventure, and sci-fi lovers will not want to miss out on these thrilling books!

Ages: 11-15

Books: The Merchant of Death, The Lost City of Faar, The Never War, The Reality Bug, Black Water, The Rivers of Zadaa, The Quillan Games, The Pilgrims of Rayne, Raven Rise, The Soldiers of Halla, Pendragon: Before the War (spin-off series)

Schooled

2009-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

In Schooled by Gordon Korman, 13-year-old Capricorn, called Cap for short, is homeschooled way out in the middle of nowhere on a once-commune farm called Garland, living with only his grandmother, who used to be a hippie. When his grandmother, Rain, falls out of a tree when picking plums, she's driven to the hospital (by Cap, who's known how to drive since he was 8) and Cap, with Rain as his only family member, is taken in by Mrs. Donnelly, who used to live on Garland back until she was 12. Cap is put into public school, and it is as if he's entered another world: why in the world would anyone need a locker to keep their stuff in? Would someone actually STEAL? And the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, 16-year-old Sophie, daughter of Mrs. Donnelly, calls him names and pours water on his head when he's practicing tai chi! And he wonders if he could convince his grandmother that TV isn't as bad as she thinks it is. At the school, called Claverage School, aka C Averge, there is a long tradition that the biggest 8th grade outcast is elected the president for the school, and Cap, with his long hair and habit of meditating, is definatly the weirdest kid anyone had seen. But Cap slowly changes lives and becomes the best president anyone had ever seen. In this fast paced novel, you'll love the story but might be a little dissapointed with the ending. Told by the points of many different characters in the story, none the less, it is worth the read!

Ages: 11-14
Books: Schooled

Unexplained

2009-10-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

In Unexplained by Judy Allen, you'll learn about strange superstitions, curious phenomena, and ancient mysteries, including the more well-known such as the Bermuda Triangle and UFOs, and the less known such as a road where strange hands grasp hold of your steering wheel and send you out of control. Learn of ghosts, dissapearances, legends and Atlantis as you read this chilling book! This will surely make you want to Google 'spontaneous human combustion' and 'Devil's brigde!'

Ages: 11-adult
Books: Unexplained

Jamberry

2009-10-02T10:52:00.001-07:00

In the picture book Jamberry by Bruce Degen, a lovable bear and a little boy travel through wonderful places toddlers and babies will love! Quickberry quackberry, pick me a blackberry! Find strawberries, and elephants skating on strawberry jam, and berry balloons and more! With wonderful drawings and fun rhymes, this is the book little kids will want read to them again and again! It will also put you in the mood for blueberries, strawberries and blackberries! Bruce Degen also draws the pictures in the great Magic School Bus series.

Ages: 1+ read aloud
Books: Jamberry

Oliver's Vegetables

2009-10-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

In the Oliver book series by Vivian French (pictures by Alison Bartlett), a boy named Oliver won't eat any kind of veggie but potatoes- chips and french fries. When visiting his grandpa on the farm, Grandpa says that Oliver can have his potatoes- if he can find them. But if he doesn't find the potatoes, young Oliver HAS to eat what he finds. On Monday... can it be potatoes? No, it's carrots! On Tuesday he finds spinach, and he likes it! See what Oliver finds on each day of the week. This is a great book for picky kids, and for other kids to learn the days of the week, and for anyone who loves a fun story! This book also has two sequels.

Ages: 3+ read aloud, 5-6 read alone

Books: Oliver's Vegetables, Oliver's Fruit Salad, Oliver's Milkshake,

Toot & Puddle

2009-10-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

In the Toot & Puddle series for young children by Holly Hobbie, two best friend pigs live in Woodcock Pocket. Puddly prefers to have fun around the yard, planting flowers and enjoying the seasons, while adventurous Toot likes to visit places around the world, meeting new friends and enjoying the sights! Enjoy the friends' adventures, whether in Wildest Borneo or at home with cousin Opal and her friend, at Christmas or in the summer. Great as bedtime stories or just anytime-stories! What will happen when Toot might not be home for Christmas? What will Puddle get Toot for his birthday? How will Puddle teach a turtle his ABCs? Find out in the Toot and Puddle books!

Ages: 3+ read aloud, 5-7 read alone

Books: Toot & Puddle, A Present for Toot, You Are My Sunshine, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Top of the World, Charming Opal, The New Friend, Wish You Were Here, The One and Only, Let It Snow

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

2009-10-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

In Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judy Barrett (pictures by Ron Barrett) Grandpa flipped a pancake right out of the pan and it landed right on Henry! After laughing, the day was normal until that night, when Grandpa, inspired by the pancake incident, told us a story about a place called Chewandswallow. There, instead of rain, food falls from the sky, every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! For breakfast there might be a brief shower of orange juice accompanied by eggs and toast (Butter and jelly came down for the toast.) And lunch one day was frankfurters already in their rolls with mustard and soda. Lamb chops might come down for dinner, with a dessert of Jell-O setting in the west. Seems great, right? But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, the people of Chewandswallow, first stuck with bad food like peanut butter with brussel sprouts and mayonaise, then with gigantic food, a pancake over the school, and tomato tornatos, the townspeople must find away to leave the once delicious land or be hit by giant hamburgers forever! How will the people solve the problem and escape the run away donuts and pickles falling through their roofs? Read (or read aloud) this book to find out!

Ages: 3+ read aloud, 5-8 read alone
Books: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Pickles to Pittsburg,

Amelia Bedelia

2009-09-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

In the Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish and Herman Parish, a housekeeper by the name of Amelia Bedelia takes everything literally! If she's told to make a jelly-roll, she discovers that jelly doesn't roll too well, and makes a pie instead. She wonders why the eggs must be seperated, and wishes a bunch of 3rd graders who are in a Thanksgiving play to 'not break any legs.' These funny books are great for children who are beginning to read and great to read aloud to younger children as great, silly bedtime stories. These books were originally written by Peggy Parish, and when she passed away her nephew continued the series, Herman Parish. Some younger children may be needed to have some things explained to them (what do they, mean, seperate eggs) and some older children may not find them as funny as younger children do. Enjoy the Amelia Bedelia books, they are sure to bring down the house! And hopefully Amelia didn't just hear that!

Ages: 2+ read aloud, 6-8 read alone.

Books: Amelia Bedelia, Thank You, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower, Come Back, Amelia Bedelia, Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia, Good Work, Amelia Bedelia, Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia Helps Out, Amelia Bedelia and the Baby, Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping, Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia's Family Album, Good Driving, Amelia Bedelia, Bravo, Amelia Bedelia!, Amelia Bedelia 4 Mayor, Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia and the Christmas List, Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm, Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School, Be My Valentine, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia Bedelia, Rocket Scientist?, Amelia Bedelia's Masterpiece, Amelia Bedelia Under Construction, Amelia Bedelia and the Cat,

Taekwon-Do: The Condensed Encyclopedia

2009-09-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

In General Choi Hong-Hi's condensed encyclopedia, the ITF Taekwon-Do student will learn most of the knowlege in the 15-volume encyclopedia condensed in one book. Learn fundamental exercises, hand techniques, foot techniques, how to make training equipment, moral culture, all 24 patterns, and more. Includes many pictures. This book was written by the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong-Hi, who also wrote Taekwon-Do and I, Moral Culture and the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. A must for any Taekwon-Doin, of any belt level. (a Taekwon-Do student.) This book is for the Internation Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), and does not include anything from the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation). This book is also called 'Taekwon-Do: The Korean Art of Self-Defense.'

Ages: 13-adult, though some younger people will probably be able to understand it.
Books: Taekwon-Do: The Condensed Encyclopedia

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

2009-09-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

In Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex, you can't judge a book by its shape and cover. This isn't a silly little-kids bedtime story book, this is an hilarious book full of really funny rhyming songs that are perfect for all those eight to ten year olds who love to make up songs to the tune of 'Joy to the World.' In this goofy book, which also has a sequel, you'll read rhyming songs about how Frankenstein made a sandwich, Godzilla pooped on someone's car in Tokyo, and how the Phantom of the Oprah can't get 'It's A Small World' out of his head. These are also very funny to listen to on CD. Read about monsters and funny things that happen to them in this great kids book! However, it has some pictures that may be frighting to some children, such as (possibly-not for certain- they may only appear to be this) human body part menu items in a monster restaraunt. However, many boys (and some girls) now days enjoy things like that, so most kids 7 and up should be fine. To let you know how funny this book is, listen to this rhyme from it:
"The Phantom of the Oprah Can't Get 'It's a Small World' Out of His Head. (Sing to the It's a Small World tune)
It's a world gone crazy, it's a world gone wrong,
when the Phantom can't even write a song,
sure he's using his head,
but what's stuck there instead,
it's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all,
angry cursing fills the hall,
now he's climbing up the wall,
It's a small world after all."
Get it?

Ages: 7-11
Books: Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Frankenstein Takes The Cake,

Artemis Fowl

2009-09-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

In this bestselling series by Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind, a genius with technology to amaze scientists. And Artemis is only twelve years old. His father is gone and his mother is insane, but Artemis is not an normal child and is fine fending for himself. Accompanied by his gigantic manservant Butler and Butler's little sister Juliet, Artemis has a moneymaking scheme that might change the balance that has existed between the supernatural fairies and humans for years... Meet Captain Holly Short, the first ever female in the LEPrecon unit, one of the fairies that all live underground now. After a disastrous run-in with a troll, Holly's boss tells her to go renew her magic, something she hasn't done in four years. But Artemis deceivers the ancient secrets of The People, and after capturing Holly, begins a battle between the LEP and himself. The faeries are a tough adversary, but Artemis is a force to be reckoned with himself... in this exciting adventure, you'll be rooting for both sides, Artemis and the LEP, and wonder what will happen next as series goes on... This book series contains a very small amount of cussing, but none of the words are too bad, and one un-translated fairy swear word.

Ages: 11-15
Books: Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident, The Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, The Time Paradox,

The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

2009-09-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

In the Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera, Franny, an adventurous explorer, Pru, a shy girl who always looks before she leaps, and Cat, an athletic girl who is a bit of a know-it-all, cannot STAND each other. As different as can be, the three girls who live on Gumm street spend their time thinking about how they don't like each other and doing their own things. Then, Ivy moves to their street: and she isn't a normal girl. She has a Jinx: and she and her mother have been moving to try and escape from it. Ivy eventually becomes friends with Franny, but when a mystery begins and they learn of a real witch, the four girls are brought together in a wacky, spooky adventure where they meet two teenage witches, their evil aunt, and even the Wizard of Oz himself! In this Oz-sequel adventure, you'll be reminded of Roald Dahl's books in the way they are intertaining but weirdly-frightning.

Ages: 11-13
Books: The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls

Red Scarf Girl

2009-08-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

In this true story, Ji-Li Jiang tells of her life as a little girl in China, from the age of 12 to 14. When Chairman Mao launches the Cultural Revolution, Ji-Li's life changes in big ways. Now houses are being searched and the girl who was once a class role model is now accused of having a landlord grandfather and told she's from a 'black' family, the opposite of the 'red' families. Her dreams of being a Red Gaurd dissapear, and she learns many of the things supposed to be for the good of the people, -such as taking away families' clothes, furniture, and other things that are considered 'fourolds'- don't seem as good anymore. Now she must endure the horrors and changes that come with the Cultural Revolution. In this great book, you'll learn alot about Communist China and enjoy the story and feel amazed as you 'live' there with Ji-Li and her family and friends. You'll be concerned for the heroine and wonder what will happen next, and what she'll choose to do. This story is non-fiction and written by Ji-Li Jiang herself, and it comes with a glossery and a forward. A great read!

Ages: 11-15
Books: Red Scarf Girl

Silverwing

2009-08-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

In the Silverwing saga by Kenneth Oppel, Shade, a young Silverwing bat, is a runt in his coloney. Determined to prove himself, Shade goes to look at the sun, breaking an ancient law of birds, bats, and beasts. Because of his mistake, the owls take revenge and destroy the bats' home, forcing them to migrate earlier than normal. But on the way to their destination, Shade gets seperated in a fierce storm. Lost, Shade meets Marina, an outcast Brightwing bat with a strange Band on her forearm- the same as Shade's lost father had- given by the humans. Marina and Shade then set out to find Shade's coloney, and so the adventure begins! On the way, the two young bats encounter giant, cannibal bats, and others both friend and foe. In this exiting book series, you'll enjoy the surprises and great plot, and the true facts about bats as well as the fantasy. These books also have a prequel by the same author that is also very good, called Darkwing.

Ages: 11-16

Books: Silverwing, Sunwing, Firewing,

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

2009-08-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

In the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series by Betty MacDonald, a kindly old magical lady called Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the one to call when children misbehave. She has cures for all, it doesn't matter if she's giving special candy sticks to gossipy whisperers, or turning a bully into the kindest boy in the neighborhood! If you ever need help with naughty children or kids with bad habits, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the one to call! This book series is very entertaining and a good read aloud book, however some of the children in the books' bad habits aren't all the way bad. For example, a show-off boy boasts he can blow a bubble-gum bubble bigger than his head, which he does, and this isn't so much irritating as other things one could do to show off, as it's rather amazing, and a cured crybaby girl claims she'll never cry again, which in reality would be worse for someone than crying too much. But these books are great to read and have a kind of Pippi Longstocking feel to them in the way they are real-life but still magical!

Ages: 5+ read aloud, 8-11 read alone.

Books: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's magic, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm, Hello, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Savvy

2009-08-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

In Savvy by Ingrid Law, Mibs is part of a very odd family: One brother creates storms, another causes electric mayhem, and her momma is perfect. This just happens in Mibs' family-These special gifts are called savvies, and they strike when you turn 13, which Mibs does. Dreams of X-ray vision and flying vanish when her poppa without a savvy gets into a car crash, and is out and can't wake up, and Mibs realizes she may have the power to awaken him! Followed by her younger and older brothers and two kids from church, Mibs stows away on a pink bible-delivery bus headed for the hospital where her dad is, sure that her awakening-savvy will save him. Unfortunately, her savvy is something very different... a crazy yet touching adventure, Savvy is an original book told from Mibs' point of view that book lovers won't want to miss out on!

Ages: 10-14
Books: Savvy

The Pocket Guide to Mischief

2009-07-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

In the Pocket Guide to Mischief by Bart King, you'll laugh out loud while reading hilarious ways to play tricks and jokes on people. Take the book's quiz with really funny options to find out if you are a mischief maker, a goody-two-shoes, or just plain evil. Read jokes and funny facts that are so outrageous you may not believe them! Learn what to say as an insult- most people won't even know what you're calling them!- learn amazing ways to spy and sneak up on your nemisis. Let's just say, after a jokester (or maybe even someone who never plays tricks!) reads this little guide, his or her friends and family better watch out!

Ages: 10-12, (though some jokes written in the book may not make sence to some people) but anyone older will probably enjoy the book as well. Except for if they're older than 70.
Books: The Pocket Guide to Mischief

Well Witched

2009-07-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

In the book Well Witched by Frances Hardinge, three kids named Bryce, Chelle and Josh steal coins from a wishing well in order to buy bus tickets home. But later, Bryce discovers strange bumps on his hand- which seem to be turning into eyes! At first the friends think it's from some sort of radioactivity that was in the well, but once Chelle starts speaking the thoughts of other people and Josh begins to gain control over electrical objects, they learn that a well spirit that lives in the well is giving them powers so that they can grant all the wishes of the people whose coins they stole! In this adventure-fantasy story with a bit of spooky mystery, you'll join 12-year-old Bryce and his friends as they set out to make wishes come true. But what will they do if they have to grant a bad wish... or face the punishment of the Well Spirit?

Ages: 10-14
Books: Well Witched

Henry and Mudge

2009-07-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

In the Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant, Henry is a little boy and Mudge is a 182-pound dog! Together, the boy and his dog have many adventures, their life is full of surprises! Together, they might go play in the snow, or make new friends, or have happy holidays! For beginning readers who love big drooly dogs, this is the perfect series! Also, the slightly easier to read books about Mudge's puppy days, Puppy Mudge, will let you read about Henry and Mudge when they were younger (and Mudge was alot smaller!) Mudge is so loveable, you can't miss these stories!

Ages: 6-8

Books: Henry and Mudge: The First Book, Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble, Henry and Mudge in the Green Time, Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon, Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days, Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea, Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers, Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat, Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps, Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test, Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend, Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind, Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin, Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All, Henry and Mudge in the Family Trees, Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night, Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move, Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan, Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet, Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House, Henry and Mudge and Mrs. Hopper's House, Henry and Mudge and the Wild Goose Chase, Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch, Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas, Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas, Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip, Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover,

Biscuit

2009-07-08T12:14:00.001-07:00

In the Biscuit book series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, a curious little puppy and his little girl owner share many adventures, from going to bed to taking a bath to trick-or-treating! These books are great for kids just learning to read, and there are plenty of adventures to last for a while! They also make great read-aloud bedtime stories for smaller children. Pat Schories illustrates the books with wonderful, cute drawings. A great first-series for first readers! Many books have won awards as well, including the American Bookseller's Association Pick of the Lists and the Winner of the 2002 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award - Best Book Award Named as a Washington Irving Children's Choice Honor Book for 2002.

Ages: 2-5 read aloud, 5-8 read alone
Books: Biscuit, Biscuit Finds a Friend, Bathtime for Biscuit, Biscuit's New Trick, Biscuit Wants to Play, Biscuit Goes to School, Biscuit's Big Friend, Biscuit Wins a Prize, Biscuit and the Baby, Biscuit Visits the Big City, Biscuit's Day at the Farm, Biscuit and the Little Pup, Biscuit Takes a Walk, Happy Birthday, Biscuit!, Happy Halloween, Biscuit!, Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit!, Biscuit's Christmas, Merry Christmas, From Biscuit, Biscuit's Valentine's Day, Biscuit Loves You Valentine's Day Kit, Happy Easter, Biscuit, Happy Hanukkah, Biscuit!, Biscuit Meets the Neighbors, Biscuit Goes to the Park, Biscuit's Day at the Beach, Time to Paint, Biscuit, What is Love, Biscuit?, Biscuit and the Bunny, Biscuit is Thankful, Hello, Biscuit, Biscuit's Picnic, Biscuit Visits the Farm, Biscuit Loves School (Giant Lift-the-Flap book), Biscuit's 100th Day of School,

The Penderwicks

2009-07-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall tells of the adventures (and misadventures) of four sisters- 12-year-old Rosalind, the oldest and most responsible, 11-year-old Skye, who's adventurous, a troublemaker, and usually a bit grouchy, 10-year-old Jane, who has a huge imagination and loves to write about her made-up heroine Sabrina Starr, and 4-year-old Batty, who talks to their big dog and always wears butterfly wings. When they go to a vacation home, the Penderwicks meet a boy named Jeffrey after Skye literally bumps into him. Unfortunately, Skye talks about how nasty Jeffrey's mother is without knowing he is her son. While trying to apologize for the mistake, the Penderwicks quickly become friends with the boy, who is turning 11. So begins the fun days at Arundel, when Batty is almost killed by a bull, Jane writes a new book, Skye makes a new best friend and Rosalind suddenly starts thinking the teenage gardener named Cagney is the best boy in the world. But when Jeffrey's mother and her boyfriend want to send him to a military school, Jeffrey must get his mother to realize he doesn't want to go if the Penderwicks are every going to see him again! The story is much better then explained here, full of many more adventures and plot twists, and it's written in an old fashioned way like The Secret Garden yet still fresh and new as well, so it's always exciting! So read The Penderwicks for a book that's partly sad, partly funny, but all good!

Ages: 10-12

Books: The Penderwicks, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street,

Kid Caramel

2009-06-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

In the Kid Caramel series by Dwayne J. Ferguson, African-American kid detective named Kid Caramel and his sidekick Earnie are always ready to solve a mystery! With Kid Caramel's super-computer brain and observation skills, the ten-year-old duo solve mysteries such as cases of missing Ankhs, a pet-stealing werewolf, and a missing Loch Ness Monster! Eventually, they are joined by Scottish friend Kayin, who enjoys rare meat. This book series is great for young mystery fans, especially if they want the hero to be an African-American for once! The mysteries are rather too short, with plots that leave a few unsolved clues, but overall the story is okay. The Kid Caramel series is said to be coming to DVD in 2009.

Ages: 9-11
Books: Case of the Missing Ankh, The Werewolf of PS-40, Mess at Loch Ness, Ghost Ranch: The Legand of Mad Jake,

Erec Rex

2009-06-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

In the Erec Rex books by Kaza Kingsley, a 12-year-old boy named Erec lives with his mom, who adopted him and his brothers and sisters. He lives a pretty normal life, except for that he has a glass eye (which might be some kind of plastic) and the fact that his family owns an array of odd objects including a 'living' alarm clock and a walking coat rack. But strangest of all, Erec gets a voice inside his head that tells him what to do, makes him do things, his cloudy thoughts, as he calls them. He fears one day they will force him to do something bad, although so far they have only made him do good deeds. But when his mother dissapears, he is told by his cloudy thoughts to find her, and a great adventure begins. Along with his new friend Bethany who lived with a cruel uncle, Erec finds himself in another area of the world- a place below our Upper Earth-where people know magic! And there, Erec Rex finds that after completing certain quests, he is destined to become a king. Full of magic and adventure, these books full of surprises are captivating! Unfortunatly, the book series needed to be edited more, as it has a few sentance errors and mistakes in the plot. Neverless, don't miss out on this awesome series because of a couple dissapointing mistakes!

Ages: 10-14

Books: The Dragon's Eye, The Monsters of Otherness, The Search for Truth,

Shakespeare's Plays

2009-06-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

William Shakespeare wrote over 30 famous plays including comedies like The Taming of the Shrew, tragedies like King Lear and Romeo and Juliet, and histories like King John. His plays are written in clever ways, telling a story full of hidden poems and iambic pentameters while the way the play is written itself is also genius. Although at first the Elizabethan Era language (full of words such as 'thou', 'thee' and other words not used today) may be hard to understand, after reading his plays you'll begin to enjoy them and understand them as if you are reading modern English. Most of the books including the meanings of strange words and a summary to assist readers. You don't have to be putting on the plays to enjoy reading them!

To learn more about Shakespeare plays, visit Best Shakespeare Reviews.

Ages: depends on the play, usually 12-adult

Books: 30+

The Shack

2009-06-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

In The Shack by William P. Young, father Mack Phillips' little daughter Missy goes missing on a camping trip, and to Mack's awful sadness, is discovered to have been murdered by someone called the Little Ladykiller. So begins The Great Sadness, the next years of Mack's life haunted by dreams of his little girl in the red dress, in which he is unable to save her. But when Mack gets a note in the mailbox signed 'Papa' -which his wife's favorite name for God- telling him to go to The Shack, the meeting at the place of despair for Mack that soon occurs ends up in Mack meeting God himself in three beings- God 'Papa', God the Holy Spirit, and Jesus! I don't want to give away the plot, but this touching, well-written, captivating story is one many will love to read and will get them thinking!

Ages: this book is said to be an adult book, but younger readers probably 14+ may be able to read it as well.
Books: The Shack

Misty of Chincoteague

2009-06-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

In Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, Paul Beebe and his younger sister who live on Chincoteague island plan to be the owners of The Phantom, a wild mare that lives on the nearby Assateague island, on Pony Penning Day. Raising one hundred dollars, on Pony Penning Day Paul sets out to capture and later buy the never-been-caught 3-year-old Phantom, but he's in for a surprise! The Phantom has a daugther- a curious little foal they name Misty! Will the kids be able to afford buy both The Phantom and Misty together? And will Paul even be able to catch the always elusive Phantom? In this book full of horse races and pony adventures, you'll be itching to read its sequels once you have finished the original! The second book tells the tale of Stormy, Misty's Foal, and the books are based on true stories in real places!

Ages: 9-11

Books:
Stormy, Misty's Foal, Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague, A Pictorial Life Story of Misty, Misty's Twilight

Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing

2009-06-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

In Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing's spooky journal- Vampyre - you'll learn the chilling story of Dr. Van Helsing and his assistant while learning about the legend of the vampire. When the doctor and his assistant, Gustav de Wolff, journey to Translyvania to help his ill brother, it turns into a hunt for the deepest, darkess evil known as the Vampyre! Journey the terrifing journey and learn the doctors terrifing fate in this terrifing book not for the faint of heart! And unexpectedly, you'll learn facts about vampyres/vampires you probably didn't know while lifting flaps, opening letters and looking at images! It's a spooky lift-the-flap book for 'big kids.' A great story to read on Halloween, or just anytime!

Ages: 10-14
Books: Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing

Geronimo Stilton

2009-05-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

In the Geronimo Stilton books by Geronimo Stilton, a mouse editor at the Rodent's Gazette likes a normal, calm life in his all-rodent city. But that's something you just can't seem to get when you have an adventurous sister like Thea Stilton, a jokester cousin like Trap Stilton, a sweet nine-year-old nephew like little Benjamin, and people who work for you like young, energetic (and annoying) Pinky Pick. Together, Geronimo and friends go on adventures Geronimo would usually like to live without, which include cats, ghosts, treasures, pirates and jungles. The books are comicly illustrated and the words themselves are pictures, such as the fact the word 'swiss cheese' would have holes in it and the word 'hot' would look burning! Great for young readers who are just starting to enjoy chapter books.

Ages: 7-10
Books: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye,
The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid,
Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House, I'm Too Fond of My Fur! Four Mice Deep in the Jungle, Paws Off, Cheddarface!
Red Pizzas for a Blue Count,
Attack of the Bandit Cats, A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo, All Because of a Cup of Coffee,
It's Halloween, You 'Fraidy Mouse!
Merry Christmas, Geronimo! The Phantom of the Subway, The Temple of the Ruby of Fire,
The Mona Mousa Code, A Cheese-Colored Camper, Watch Your Whiskers, Stilton! Shipwreck on the Pirate Islands, My Name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton, Surf's Up, Geronimo!
The Wild, Wild West, The Secret of Cacklefur Castle, A Christmas Tale, The Geronimo Stilton Cookbook, Valentine's Day Disaster
Field Trip to Niagara Falls, The Search for Sunken Treasure, The Mummy with No Name, The Christmas Toy Factory,
Wedding Crasher, Down and Out Down Under,
The Mouse Island Marathon, The Mysterious Cheese Thief,
Christmas Catastrophe,Valley of the Giant Skeletons,
Geronimo and the Gold Medal Mystery, Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent, A Very Merry Christmas, Geronimo's Valentine, The Race Across America, Thea Stilton and the Dragon's Code, A Fabumouse School Adventure, Thea Stilton and the Mountain of Fire, Singing Sensation (The last few books are coming 2009)

Finding Fairies: Secrets for Attracticting Little People From Around the World

2009-05-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Finding Fairies by Michelle Roehm McCann and Marianne Monson-Burton is a book that tells tales of fairies from around the world (such as Africa, Alaska, North America and more), as well as offering activaties and crafts to do, fairy food to make (for you and your magical friends) games to play, and ways to befriend the fairies! Full of beautiful illustrations and perfect ideas for a fairy party or just a magical day! This book is fun for children young and old!

Ages: 4-10 book, 4+ recipes and activaties (with help from an adult)
Books: Finding Fairies

Memories of a Cuban Kitchen

2009-05-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Memories of a Cuban Kitchen is a cookbook by Mary Urrutia Randelman and Joan Schwartz that has more than 200 classic Cuban recipes including desserts such as Flan de Mama Nena (Traditional Flan), dinners such as Picadillo (cuban beef hash), and sides such as Platanos Maduros Fritos (fried sweet plantains). Before each recipe, a brief explanation about the food is printed, as well as before each category, where you can read a bit about Cuban desserts, dinners, ect. It doesn't matter if you are Cuban or not, you can still enjoy making and tasting these great recipes!

Ages: 7+ (with help from an adult)
Books: Memories of a Cuban Kitchen

The Get Rich Quick Club

2009-05-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

In The Get Rich Quick Club by Dan Gutman, 11-year-old Gina has a goal: To make a million dollars before she's a teenager. But exactly how is she going to do that? Together with Rob, a boy who is probably a genius, Quincy, a girl who is from Australia and is sometimes hard to understand, and a pair of 8-year-old twins who like to stretch the truth and collect the lint that comes out of the dryer, Gina forms the GRQ club- (Gina, Rob, Quincy club), the Get Rich Quick Club! The friends, after much thought, decide that the best way to get rich is to fake a UFO sighting. But the sighting becomes more famous then the kids planned, and soon people from all over the world are amazed at the club's UFO picture? What is it with these people? Everyone knows there is no such thing as UFOs... right? In this funny book, you'll laugh and read about the amusing plans of the Get Rich Quick Club!

Ages: 9-11
Books: The Get Rick Quick Club

A Resurrection of Magic

2009-05-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

In Kathleen Duey's trilogy called A Resurrection of Magic, two magical stories combine to make one book. Set in another land, the first story tells of Sadima, a girl whose family hates magicians because one caused her mother's death during Sadima's birth. But they girl may be magical herself, because she has a special understanding of animals. As a young girl, she meets a wizard boy named Franklin, who asks her to meet him in a place far from where artistic Sadima lives. Wanting a better understanding of magic, at age seventeen Sadima departs from her town and meets Franklin and his master, the mysterious and terrifying Somiss. Somiss wants to bring magic back into the world, and wants to learn songs in strange, seemingly nosense languages. What does Somiss want? What are the secrets of magic? In the second tale, we learn of a boy named Hahp, who lives in Sadima, Franklin, and Somiss' future. There, magic is back, but only available to those who go to a strange, dark academy. Sent there by his cruel father, Hahp and the other boys at the academy must learn to create their own food with magic, or die of starvation. It seems only one can survive the academy. Will it be Hahp? In these two alternatings stories that seem different at first but instead connect together, you'll be waiting for one chapter to end just to read the next chapter, the next part of the story, but once to you get to the part you want, you'll be just as excited to get back and read what happens next in the other side of the story! Great for readers who loved Kathleen Duey's the Unicorn's Secret series when they were younger. This book series includes cussing in Hahp's side of the story, but mostly the words aren't too bad.

Ages: 12-18
Books: Skin Hunger

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2009-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, a little girl named Alice falls down a rabbit hole and comes out in a very different world. In Wonderland, food and drink can make you larger or smaller, and most everyone is mad. Cats can grin (at least the Cheshire one) and one can swim in their own tears! Alice meets the Mad Hatter and the March Hare and the Dormouse, who have tea parties all day long, and the crazy Queen of Hearts, who declares people should be beheaded every few minutes, and Alice finds a baby that turns into a pig in a room full of pepper. In this odd book and its sequel, you won't be sure if you like or dislike the famous story, just as you won't be sure if the adventure is in a dream or not.

Ages: 9-14

Books: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass/Through the Looking Glass,

Darkwing

2009-04-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

In the book Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel, you'll learn the 65-million year old story of Dusk, a prehistoric ancestor of the bats called a chiropter. But Dusk isn't like the other furry sailing chiropters, he looks different and can see in the dark. And after watching birds and dreaming of it, the newborn learns that he, unlike his family, can actually fly! Meanwhile, the saurian (dinosaur) egg hunter Carnassial the felid learns that he has a craving for meat. The predator breaks away from the rest of the felids and starts his own group- one that hunts other living animals. Dusk is treated different because he is odd, but when Dusk and the other chiropters are attacked by Carnassial's band of rogue felids, he and the others are forced to flee and start a journey to search for a new home. Is Dusk the only flying chiropter and will he and his family and friends survive the dangerous journey through a world full of new predators and strange animals? Find out in this great book that also happens to be a prequel to the Silverwing saga by the same author. Although this book has an unsatisfying ending, anyone who likes animals, adventures, or prehistoric creatures will love this book!

Ages: 11-16
Books: Darkwing

The Looking Glass Wars

2009-04-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

In The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, Princess Alyss Heart is ready to enjoy her 7th birthday in her home, Wonderland. She's adventurous and has a very powerful imagination, one that allows her to create things out of thin air and allow most anything to happen. But the joyful day turns into a tragic one, when the other Hearts are murdered by Alyss's evil aunt Redd, who then declares herself Queen of Hearts. The young princess and the brave bodyguard Hatter Madigan are then transported through the magical Pool of Tears and into a very different world, separated in the process. The world is here on earth, where Alyss is an orphan and her imagination becomes powerless. While Hatter Madigan in searching for the little girl and Redd rules Wonderland with the dangerous cat-man assassin The Cat by her side, Alyss is adopted and no one believes her tales of the horrible going-ons in her world and her title as Princess of Heart. As years go on, Alyss meets an aspiring author who seems to believe her and wants to make a book about Wonderland. But when Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is written, it is all lies and nonsense. Her name is even spelled wrong! As Alyss grows older, she trys to fit in in the world she's stuck in. But when finally returned to Wonderland, the now grown Alyss must claim the throne and become the rightful Queen of Hearts! After reading these great books, you'll never think of Wonderland the same way again!

Ages: 13-18

Books: The Looking Glass Wars, Seeing Redd, ArchEnemy (not yet out)

Once Upon a Marigold

2009-03-21T20:09:00.001-07:00

In Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris, a boy named Chris who lives with a troll in a fairy-tale land falls in love with the princess Marigold, whom he is P-mail (Pigeon Mail) pal with. But how can a poor inventor boy like Chris actually meet a princess like Marigold? Chris finds a way, but when he finds out about the evil queen, Marigold's mother, and her evil plots, a funny fairy-tale adventure begins! This book has suprises that you might not have seen coming, and a happily ever after. This book has won many awards, however, its sequel, Twice Upon a Marigold, is highly disappointing and I wouldn't recommend anyone reading it, and that fans of Once Upon a Marigold will finish reading the first book and pretend it ends there, which it seems that it does until you read book two, which only has a good ending. But book one is a funny, fairy-tale comedy love story that may please fans of the movie Shrek.

Ages: 11-16
Books: Once Upon a Marigold, Twice Upon a Marigold,

The Name of This Book is Secret

2009-03-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

The name of this book is secret. And it isn't by 'Pseudonymous' Bosch. And no one is going to say that it tells of the adventures of two 11-year-olds - survivalist Cass and joke-loving Max-Ernest and how they learn of a diary from the house of a magician who disappeared, and how they learn of the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais who want to steal this diary. And this book isn't a funny slightly-spooky mystery. And you will not read about mysteries, people who don't grow old, two magicians, and a Symphony of Smells. Okay, fine, you will. But don't tell anyone. This book series is (not*) exciting and funny, and is (not*) written like an older book but partly captivating like a new one. And remember, they are (not*).
*this 'not' is fake
*this 'not' is fake
*this 'not' doesn't belong here.

Ages: 10-13
Books: The Name of This Book is Secret, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late,

The 39 Clues

2009-03-21T19:37:00.001-07:00

In the 39 Clues series by various authors (including Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series) brother and sister 14-year-old Amy and 11-year-old Dan are orphans. When their kind grandmother dies, a surprising will states that adventurous Dan, shy Amy, and the other members of the Cahill family can either take one million dollars each and walk away, or start a mysterious quest that involves 39 clues and a prize that would make the finder the most powerful person in history. The siblings take the first clue, and begin a dangerous race against the other Cahills who are after the treasure. While solving clues that lead to other clues, Dan, Amy, and Nellie-their gaurdian, learn that the Cahills are the most powerful family of all time, they are realated to people such as Harry Houdini, Louis and Clark, and Benjamin Franklin, and that any relative will stop at nothing until they solve all the 39 clues. After you read the books, then YOU are given a chance to solve clues and win money prizes, by owning the special cards that come with the books and visiting the 39 Clues website, or in other ways all learned at the site. But this awesome series is great to read for fun rather than to get the cards as well! This is a planned 10-book series, and even if all the books are by different authors they are written very simmilarly.

Ages: 10-13
Books: The Maze of Bones (by Rick Riordan), One False Note (by Gordon Kormon) , The Sword Theif (by Peter Lerangis),

Daniel X

2009-03-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

In the Daniel X series by Maximum Ride's author James Patterson and two other authours, 15 year old Daniel isn't a normal boy. He is an Alien Hunter and he's got superpowers- he can read minds, transform himself, can create imagined family and friends with his mind, and so much more! When Daniel was only 3 years old, his parents were murdered by the number one wanted evil alien called The Prayer. Ever since then, the boy with no last name has been an Alien Hunter, tracking down the aliens on The List that once belonged to his mom and dad. When lonely Daniel goes to hunt for Number 6 on the list, he meets Pheobe, a pretty girl who wants to search for her missing sister. Daniel wants to help, and he's sure that Number 6 is behind the kidnapping. But when Pheobe herself goes missing, Daniel is lead into a trap that leads him to the place he came from- another planet! Now it's up to Daniel to save the world- two worlds - and defeat Number 6 on The List. Then, he goes after other evil aliens, always finding out a clever way to stop their plans aloung with his imagined-to-life buddies. Although the books seem kind of ridiculous at times, this is the kind of book that you are forced to read once you read one page of the book!

Ages: 11-15
Books: The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, Daniel X: Watch The Skies,

Ingo

2009-03-16T23:30:00.001-07:00

In the Ingo series by Helen Dunmore, Sapphire and Conor's father vanishes at sea. Most say he is dead, but the sister and brother vow to never stop searching for their dad until they find him. So when Conor is missing, Sapphy is worried he has suffered the same mysterious fate as her father, and she goes after him and finds him talking to a girl in the water. Conor later seems confused he was gone for hours with the girl when he'd thought that he had only been for a quick swim. But later when Conor heads for the cove where he had met the girl, Sapphy goes to find him. Then Sapphy meets Faro- a Mer boy from the underwater world of Ingo. Here begins the tale of Ingo, a book that somehow enchants the reader as the also dive into Ingo- into the pages of the novel. This series is narrated by Sapphy and is slightly sad, and partly, somehow, beautiful, and partly adventure. The siblings are drawn to the sea, and you will be too. It's a new look at merpeople!

Ages: 11-15
Books: Ingo, The Tide Knot, The Deep, The Crossing of Ingo

Bunnicula

2009-03-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

In the Bunnicula series by James Howe (and Deborah Howe in the case of the orignal book, Bunnicula) Harold the dog narrates a story about him and his friend- a book-loving cat named Chester, and their human family. When the humans go to the movie theater to watch a Dracula movie, the find a cute bunny with cape-like markings on it. They decide to name it Bunnicula, and they bring it home. But when the family finds a white, juiceless tomato, Chester is sure that something is going on. Now Harold and Chester must solve the mystery of the veggies and the rabbit- is Bunnicula a juice eater?! These are funny books, and funny things happen including the pets deciding it might work to stab Bunnicula through the heart with a sirloin steak.
He's the furriest vampire ever!

Ages: 9-13

Books: Bunnicula, Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, Nighty Nightmare, Return to Howliday Inn, Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow, Bunnicula Strikes Again!
(and two spin-off series: Bunnicula and Friends: Ready to Read and Tales From The House of Bunnicula)

Hotel for Dogs

2009-03-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

In the book Hotel for Dogs by Lois Duncan, almost 11 year old Andi goes to stay with her mom, dad, and older brother Bruce at Aunt Alice's house, but are forced to leave Andi's beloved dog Bebe home, and besides, Aunt Alice has pet alergies. When poetry loving Andi finds a dog and names it Friday, she knows she can't keep her- and her puppies! So Andi and Bruce start a dog hotel in an old house no one was living in without telling anyone, but when they find runaway Red Rover, an abused dog of a nasty kid neighbor, and then the abandoned dog who is fed at the school playground, they have to take them in at their hotel for dogs, too! Soon Bruce and Andi are joined by three other kids, and they take in more dogs, but how can they possibly have their secret dog hotel and pay for all the dog food and take care of the dogs as well? This book isn't quite as good as it sounds, yet this is an enjoyable book that is also funny and great for dog lovers!

Ages: 9-11
Books: Hotel for Dogs, News for Dogs

Holes

2009-03-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

In the award-winning Holes by Louis Sachar, young Stanley Yelnats is blamed for stealing a pair of shoes that belonged to a famous baseball player. He isn't the luckiest person around, and when he's told that he'll either go to jail or to Camp Green Lake for the theft he didn't commit, he goes off to Camp Green Lake. But it isn't very green, and their isn't any lake. It's a camp for bad boys, where the kids must dig holes five feet deep and five feet wide. This might make you think that this book isn't worth reading, but when Stanley finds that they aren't just digging to build character as the boys are told and discovers that they are definatly looking for something, the adventure begins! And although the Yelnats always blame their supposedly cursed no-good dirty-rotten pig-stealing ancestor for all their bad luck, even if they don't believe in curses, you'll learn about the true curse as the mystery unravels. So join Stanley and his new friend Zero as they solve the mystery of the hole digging at Camp Green lake. So if you're interested in dangerous yellow-spotted lizards, a Warden with poisonous painted nails, the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow, and a curse of old, this is the mystery-adventure book for you!

Ages: 11-14
Books: Holes and it's sequel Small Steps

Monster Hunt: The Guide to Cryptozoology

2009-03-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

In Rory Storm's Monster Hunt book, you will learn about possibly real monsters! From the well-known cryptids such as the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot to the little known creatures such as the playful Heavenly Lake Monster (The Chinese Nessie) and a territorial living dinosaur! This book is split into different chapters, so if you want to look up what kind of monsters live in Australia or are wondering about the creatures of Europe, you can easily flip to the right part of the book. And in between chapters is an area where you can write what you think about the monsters in the book, or even place your own picture of a hidden animal you have seen! Although some of the illustrations in this book do not exactly match the description of the creature they are supposed to look like, this book is great for dinosaur, monster, and cryptid fans everywhere, and although the author obviously isn't a skeptic, he still fairly admits that there were hoaxes and evidence against the monsters. So if you want to learn more about the yeti or find out about the Ogopogo or Jersey Devil, this is a great book! It's the Spiderwick Field Guide for crypid hunters!
I apologize about the not-exactly correct picture.

Ages: 11-adult

Books: Monster Hunt: The Guide to Cryptozoology

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You

2009-03-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Now you can read the field guide book from The Spiderwick Chronicles that Mulgarath wanted so badly! Learn the secrets of the faerie world and how to find the fey yourself, or maybe even keep them away. With Tony DiTerzelli's wonderful illustrations and the great descriptions of griffins, pixies, changlings, and more, this book has pages big and small and alot of information, although if this really was given to Holly Black and Tony DiTerzelli by three children and written by Arthur Spiderwick, it seems alot was removed and edited. But this book is almost perfect for the Spiderwick fan!

Ages: 9-14
Books: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You

Pretend Soup

2009-02-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

In these cookbooks by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson, kids can create fun recipes from pizza to cinnamon buns to green spagetti to a purple milkshake. The illustrations in this book as well as simple instructions help younger children make the recipes in these books, and as your preschooler grows older, why not read Honest Pretzels and then Salad People, which have more difficult recipes and more words. With a list of ingrediants for grown-ups and nice helpful pictures for kids, these are great first-cookbooks for children four and up! The pretend soup you make in these books certainly isn't pretend!

Ages: 4+, 8+,

Books: Pretend Soup, Honest Pretzels, Salad People

The Boxcar Children Cookbook

2009-02-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

In this cookbook by Diane Blain inspired by The Boxcar Children, you'll find favorite recipes from the Boxcar Children series! Including the pancakes they enjoy to eat with butter and brown sugar, Mrs. McGregor's pudding, and more! This book is split into sections for easy recipe-finding, (Breakfast, Desserts, ect.) If you're a fan of The Boxcar Children, you'll love this cookbook!

Ages: 5+ with help, 10+ alone

Books: The Boxcar Children Cookbook

Mouse Tales and Mouse Soup

2009-02-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

In Arnold Lobel's Mouse Soup and Mouse Tales, one mouse tells funny tales to little mice and in Mouse Soup, a clever mouse must tell stories or else he may become mouse soup! These are great easy-readers for children just beginning to read, or to read alound to smaller children as bedtime stories. For although the whole book is a story, each chapter is a smaller story itself!

Ages: 6-9
Books: Mouse Tales, Mouse Soup,

Frog and Toad

2009-02-24T15:27:00.001-08:00

In the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, a frog named Frog and a toad named Toad go on usually funny adventures with each other. Including stories about things such as sending letters, funny bathing suits, kites, cookies, and surprises, these easy-readers are good for children beginning to read or even fun for older kids!

Ages: 6-8
Books: Frog and Toad Are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, Days with Frog and Toad,

Gone-Away Lake

2009-02-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

In Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, Portia and her little brother go to visit their twelve-year-old cousin Julian for the summer at his new house. Portia expects fun and adventure with her cousin and best friend, but of the normal kind, such as playing games and catching bugs, but what she gets is much more fantastic than that. When Portia and Julian go exploring, they pass an enourmous rock with strange writing on it, but once they get lost, they come to a ghost town near a swamp! But when they meet an elderly brother and sister living there, they learn that the swamp was once a lake, the secret of the words on the rock, and fix up one of the abandoned houses as a club house! Although this story isn't about fantasy or time-travel, the book seems magical and it's almost like the cousins and their friends are in another time! So if you want to find out about the Gulper, a pocket-knife turned gold, and how two girls once rescued kittens, read this book!

Ages: 10-13
Books: Gone-Away Lake, Return to Gone Away,

Black Powder

2009-01-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

In Black Powder by Staton Rabin, 14 year old Langston's best friend Neely is shot and killed. But when Langston discovers that his teacher has found a way to view the earth as it was years ago, Langston determinedly finds out how to actually travel there, and plans to stop Neely's death. But when it's impossible to go back in time to only a week ago, Langston decides to stop the invention of gun powder instead. Langston travels back in time and meets the man who invented the black powder that is used in guns today, but in Oxford, England 1278, a time where African-American-looking people like Langston are few and slaves, the scientist Roger Bacon wants to use gun powder to help give the poor freedom, and won't listen to Langston and stop it's creation! Will Langston save his friend and stop guns from ever being invented? Find out in this time-travel book! Although the book ends with a few unsolved time-travel mysteries, if you're a fan of time-traveling adventures and just can't seem to find one you haven't read, then try reading this book!

Ages: 12-15

Books: Black Powder

Coraline

2009-01-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

In Coraline by Neil Gaiman, a girl named Coraline lives in a creepy, big old house with her parents and the people they share it with, the old man who lives upstairs (who thinks he has mice that play music) and Mrs. Spinks and Mrs. Forcible (retired actresses). There are fourteen doors and one of them leads to a brick wall, put there because the doorway was no longer used to enter the house next door. Coraline is tired of people calling her 'Caroline' and she's tired of her mother's microwave and frozen dinners and her father's unusual 'recipes.' Coraline is tired of all the boring stuff. But when Coraline opens the door to nowhere, it leads to somewhere! Coraline enters an alternate world, where she meets her button-eyed Other Mother and a talking cat! But although the world seems amazing at first, she learns that the world is much more sinister. The Other Mother has now captured Coraline's real parents, and it's up to Coraline to rescue them and get back to the real world! Although this book's ending with unsolved mysteries leaves much to be desired, if you like creepy fantasy stories then this is a good, original change!

Ages: 10-14

Books: Coraline

One

2009-01-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

In the novel One by Richard Bach, married couple Richard and Leslie fly in their plane (which they call Growly) when they find themselves some place familiar- it's the place where they first met each other! How is this possible? But Richard and Leslie waste no time telling their younger selves that they should get married now and their life would have less mistakes. And so begins the adventures of Richard and Lesile, in which they meet their guide named Pye, a person who says she is BOTH of them from the future, and in which they jump through different dimensions with their plane, meeting different versions of themselves and seeing different earths, some very different while some quite simmilar, including a world without war and a world where there is only one person left, caring for it. Read this book, to find out how we are all One.

Ages: 13-adult

Books: One

Jack Sparrow

2009-01-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Based on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the Jack Sparrow series by Rob Kidd tells the story of teenage runaway Jack Sparrow-Captain Jack Sparrow, and his crew, who ride aboard the mighty Barnacle, which happens to be a little boat. But how did Jack become a pirate? It all starts with the journey to find the magical Sword of Cortes, but Jack has many other more dangerous adventures as the series continues, including an encounter with Davy Jones and a visit with the good witch Tia Dalma! If you like Pirates of the Caribbean, or even if you like adventure stories, then this exciting series is for you, savvy?

Ages: 9-11
Books: The Coming Storm, The Siren Song, The Pirate Chase, The Sword of Cortés, The Age of Bronze, Silver, City of Gold, The Timekeeper, Dance of the Hours, Sins of the Father, Poseidon's Peak, Bold New Horizons, The Tale of Billy Turner (and other stories)

Guinness World Records

2009-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

In the Guinness World Records books, you'll learn who holds the wackiest, funniest, most amazing world records there are! Who is the world's oldest man? How big is the biggest hamburger? Is there another super-expesive golden ice cream dessert? You'll find out these records and more, and you'll learn how you can break records yourself! In the newest edition, you'll even grab a pair of 3D-glasses to see the world's tallest dog looking taller than ever, and other 3D-magic pictures!

Ages: almost all ages, but some records may not be appropriate for younger kids.

Books: One comes out every year

Zlata's Diary

2009-01-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

The book Zlata's Diary really was Zlata Filipović's diary named Mimmy from 1991 to 1993, during the Bosnian war. The war begins before her 11th birthday, and she goes on to write about the war, and about her daily life in Sarajevo. This book is an interesting read, and you'll enjoy the book and this time, when you feel the writer is a real girl, she really is!

Ages: 11-13

Books: Zlata's Diary

Captain Underpants

2009-01-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

In this epic novel by Dav Pilkey, two boys named George and Harold use a cool ring to hypnotize their mean Principal into thinking that he is the super hero they invented- Captain Underpants! He's the bald underwear wearing hero that wants to crush evil! But now that's been causing alot of trouble, because their Pr- I mean, Captain Underpants - now wants to beat the bad guys without any super powers! As the series goes on, the Captain becomes alot more super and he goes out to battle boogers and other gross villians! If you like part funny, part gross stories, then this is the - da da da da! - series for you! Get ready for some 'laffs!'

Ages: 6-10

Books: The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds), Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants, Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People, Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Re-Turn of Tippy Tinkletrousers (not yet out)

The New Toughness Training for Sports

2009-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

This book by James E. Loehr isn't the kind of book you'd expect to find here, it isn't a fantasy book or an adventure book at all. But The New Toughness Training for Sports is a book that any person who takes any sport must have! Here, you'll learn how to become tougher in sports, and better at sports. It's hard to explain how good a book this really is, but if you are looking to become better at soccer, football, martial arts, golf, and any other sport, this is the best book there is! You'll learn that too much or too little practice isn't good, and you'll learn about your IPS (ideal preformance state) and how to get into it at any time. You'll learn that your real self must have its needs met, mental and physical, and when you should use your preformance self. Read this book! Also, reading it twice is better than once!

Ages: 10-adult

Books: The New Toughness Training for Sports

Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg

2009-01-01T18:18:00.000-08:00

Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted and The Princess Tales, writes this fantasy story about the fairies who live in Never Land, which is the the home of Tinker Bell and Peter Pan, and many other wonders. Beautifully illustrated, this book tells the tale of Prilla, a fairy who doesn't know what talent she has, unlike all the other fairies, who all have special talents, like serious Tinker Bell, the Pots and pans-talent tinker fairy, or the proud fast-flying fairy Vidia, who tends to brag. Prilla isn't sure she even HAS a talent, but when the magical Mother Dove that helps create pixie dust is in trouble, Prilla joins with Tinker Bell, the water-talent fairy Rani, and more new friends on an adventure full of evil pirates and a dangerous dragon!

Ages: 7-11
Books: Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, (and it's sequal) Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand

Star Wars

2008-12-28T17:33:00.001-08:00

This out of print book series by Paul Davids (though it is also co-authored) tells the tale of what happens to your favorite Star Wars characters after the fall of the Emperor and Darth Vader. For the remaining imperial warlords have been fighting among themselves, and there is a prophecy that fortells soon a new Emperor will arise and he shall wear on his hand an object of great power...These books are captivating for even someone who isn't a BIG fan of Star Wars, and although they are rare and out of print, they can sometimes be found on Amazon and also in some libraries. Although these are great books, some fans may be dissapointed with some parts, for example, the sourse of much of Darth Vader's power is from his glove, rather than all the Force, but these are exciting books that, if you find one, will be a great read!

Ages: 9-11

Books: The Glove of Darth Vader, The Lost City of the Jedi, Zorba the Hutt's Revenge, Prophets of the Dark Side, Queen of the Empire, Mission from Mount Yoda,

The Bone Flute

2008-12-08T12:47:00.001-08:00

The Bone Flute by Patricia Bow is an interesting book that may remind you of Clive Barker's Abarat books. When two friends discover a flute made of bone, they enter an adventure that includes a cat-girl named Miranda, a mysterious house, all combined with adventure and mystery that will make this book hard to put down!

Ages: 10-14

Books: The Bone Flute

The Tales of Beedle The Bard

2008-12-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

J.K. Rowling's newest book has come out- The Tales of Beedle The Bard, the storybook for young wizards and witches in her famous world of Harry Potter! Translated by Hermione Granger and with a commentary by Albus Dumbledore, you will learn some things you might never have known about Hogwarts and wizardkind while enjoying stories including The Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, and the famous The Tale of Three Brothers. However, if you compare these stories to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, they wouldn't be very good at all.
(Warning, The Warlock's Hairy Heart is too scary for young children- or young witches and wizards, as Dumbledore himself states)

Ages: 7-17, except for the Warlock's Hairy Heart, which must be read only to children who won't have nightmares.
Books: The Tales of Beedle The Bard

Maximum Ride

2008-12-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

In the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson, six kids grew up in a lab... because they were made part bird, part human by evil scientists called White Coats. They have wings, light bones, they are stronger than adults, almost all of them have special powers, and one girl named Max is destined to save the world. 14 year olds Max, Fang, and Iggy, and 11 year old Nudge, 6 year old Angel, and the 8 year old Gasman, who was given that name for obvious reasons, lived with Jeb, a good White Coat who rescued the bird kids from the lab called The School, for years until Jeb dissapeared. Now they are on their own and on the run from another breed of hybrids from The School, the Erasers, part human, part wolf. But when Angel is kidnapped by the Erasers and taken to The School, funny and brave Max, loyal Fang, super-smart and blind Iggy, talkative Nudge, and Gazzy the Gasman, set out to rescue the youngest member of the flock. Narrated by Max, these books are the Maximum Ride!

Ages: 12-14
Books: The Angel Experiment, School's Out- Forever, Saving The World and Other Extreme Sports, The Final Warning, MAX,

The Host

2008-12-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

In The Host by Stephenie Meyer, creatures have come to earth after living on many other worlds ('souls' they call themselves on this planet) and they use humans' bodies as their 'hosts.' A group of humans have managed to stay human, but when a young lady named Melanie is captured and turned into a host, she doesn't fade away like the other humans. Instead, Melanie is still inside her body when a soul named Wanderer comes to earth and uses it! But when Melanie shows Wanderer images of a man named Jared and her little brother, Wanderer becomes attached to the humans she has never even met. Together, Wanderer and Melanie search for the human resistance, but when they are captured, the humans learn that the souls aren't so bad after all, and that there is a way humans can live in peace once again.

Ages: it says it is an adult book, but good younger readers probably 13 and up could read it too.
Books: The Host

Nightmare Academy

2008-10-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

In the book series by Dean Lorey, Nightmare Academy, 13 year old Charlie Benjamin doesn't have even one friend, besides his parents. He is homeschooled and hadn't been allowed around other kids for years-at least not close enough to become friends with any of them, anyway. You see, when Charlie goes to sleep, he has horrible nightmares, and when ever this happens, something frightening will happen. It always seemed Charlie himself was responsible, until one sleep-over where all the guests become wrapped up by a giant spider-leaving Charlie untouched. One night, after a nightmare, Charlie is visited by a Nethermancer, a Banisher, and a Facilitator, three people who tell Charlie that the creatures in nightmares are real, and Banishers and Nethermancers take care of them! Some gifted children can transport the monsters from a place called the Nether into their rooms when they have nightmares, and Charlie is one of them. After a run in with a shape-changing Mimic, Charlie's parents allow him to go to the Nightmare Academy, an amazing place where children are destined to become a Banisher- a person who banishes and fights monsters, or a Nethermancer - a person who can create portals into the Nether. These books are exciting, entertaining, and sometimes funny, and though at first it might sound like another Harry Potter-based book, it is quite original.

Ages: 10-13

Books: Monster Hunters, Monster Madness,

The BFG

2008-09-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Roald Dahl is at his best with his book The BFG! When an eight year old orphan named Sophie is suddenly snatched from her bed by a giant, she realizes that she has just found her best friend, The BFG, Big Friendly Giant! The BFG isn't like all the other mean human-eating giants, he is the catcher of dreams to give to children around the world-except for the bad ones, of course, those he traps inside jars where they can never get out. But when Sophie and The BFG discover that the human-eating giants are planning to eat a whole bunch of children, Sophie knows that they must somehow stop them! They plan to try and convince the Queen that giants are real, but how can they do that? The answer may be in dreams...

This is one of Roald Dahl's greatest books (along with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator) and is full of adventure and whizpopping humor!

Ages: 8-11

Books: The BFG

Three Cousins Detective Club

2008-09-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

In the Three Cousins Detective Club series by Elspeth Campbell Murphy, three cousins named Sarah-Jane, Titus, and Timothy have a detective club (T.C.D.C), because they always solve mysteries! From missing items to strange writing, these mystery books are great to read aloud or read alone. Every mystery is diffrent and exciting!

Ages: 6+ read aloud, 8-11 read alone

Books: 30+

A to Z Mysteries

2008-09-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

In the A to Z Mysteries books by Ron Roy, three kids named Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose always discover spooky mysteries! For every letter of the alphabet, the kids solve a mystery! Some of these mysteries aren't very good, but other are fun, funny, and spooky!

Ages: 8-10

Books: One for every letter of the alphabet

Strange Museum (Hooked On Phonics)

2008-09-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Mandy and Jake Strange live in a museum in the book series Strange Museum by Jahnna N. Malcolm. But after dark, anything that they touch in the museum takes them back in time to the period it came from! To get back to their time, Mandy and Jake have to find the owner of the object that they touched, but sometimes that is harder than they think it will be! Though sometimes Mandy and Jake don't get along, the brother and sister always help each other return home. But can they return home? If you like Magic Tree House and The Time Warp Trio, you'll like Strange Museum!

(I apologize for the picture of the books, when a more suitable one is found I will change it)

Ages: 8-11

Books: The Midnight Ride, Men in Green, The Royal Switch, Pirate's Revenge

The Time Warp Trio

2008-09-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

In the Time Warp Trio book series by Jon Scieszka, a boy named Joe gets a book from his magician uncle for his birthday-The Book- but he and his friends Sam and Fred discover that The Book is really magic! Now Joe, Sam, and Fred find out that they can be trasported to diffrent points in time, all from The Book! Later, Fred, Sam and Fred are trasported into the future, where they meet their great-great-granddaughters! Read books about the adventures of Sam, Samantha, Fred, Freddi, Joe and Jodie-the 10 year old time warpers!

Ages: 8-10

Books:
Knights of the Kitchen Table, The Not-So-Jolly Roger, The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy, Your Mother Was a Neanderthal, 2095, Tut Tut, Summer Reading Is Killing Me, It's All Greek to Me
See You Later Gladiator, Sam Samurai, Hey Kid, Want to Buy a Bridge?, Viking It and Liking It
Me Oh Maya , Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci , Oh Say, I Can't See, Marco? Polo!

The Tapestry

2008-09-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

In The Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff, one boy finds out that he has powers- powers that allow him to enter a special academy. There, he learns many things, some things that he enjoys-and other things that he doesn't like too much. When he learns of a powerful monstrocity that is going to be unleashed, our hero Max knows he's go to do something! If you don't start thinking this is a Harry Potter copy, you will enjoy this book with magic and fantastic creatures!

Ages: 11-13
Books: The Hound of Rowan, The Second Siege,

My Sister The Vampire

2008-09-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

In the My Sister The Vampire series by Sienna Mercer, 13 year old vampire-book loving Olivia always wished she had a sister. When she moves and goes to a new school, she is excited about making new friends- but also a little worried that she won't meet anyone anything like her. Wow, was she wrong! When Olivia first meets Ivy, she seems compleatly diffrent from Olivia, using the word "sucks" as "awesome" and wearing Goth clothes and dark eyeliner- not simmilar to Olivia's pink cheerleader-type outfit at all. But when they look closer, both girls discover that they are really identical twins! They switch places and have lots of fun, but Olivia realizes that she and Ivy are not exactly identical. Ivy is a violet-eyed pale-skinned girl vampire, and Olivia is only a human- with a vampire twin sister! Learn about the adventures of Ivy and Olivia, full of vampires, cheerleading, slightly spooky adventures, a group of irritating vampires called the Beasts, and a very nice vampire boy that Ivy would love to know better.

Ages: 9-12
Books: Switched, Fangtastic!, Re-Vamped!, Vampalicious!,

Halloween Pumpkins & Parties

2008-09-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

In the Better Homes and Gardens Halloween Pumpkins & Parties, you will learn many Halloween recipes and crafts, and you'll have the coolest pumpkins in the neighborhood! Decorate your house with the many decorations in this book, and then carve a Mummy Pumpkin or make a Witch's Hat Cake! You can even make your own simple Halloween costume, for you or your children!

Ages: 9-adult
Books: Halloween Pumpkins & Parties,